Rail workers vote to strike over flexible working and pay

Workers at Great Western Railway (GWR) have voted to strike in a dispute over flexible working arrangements, pay and pensions. Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) working in areas including rostering, service delivery and performance strategy are involved in the row. Separate votes in different areas of the business showed strong support for strikes and other forms of industrial action, the union said. It has not yet set dates for strikes.

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “Strike action and action short of a strike, which will have a real impact on services at GWR, are now inevitable unless the company addresses these perfectly legitimate demands. “It’s in no way reasonable for our members to suffer any financial hardship for doing shift work, which in itself runs the increased risk of physical and mental impairment. Great Western Railway train services to be nationalised Travellers warned over further Tube disruption ahead of fresh strikes by drivers “Likewise, for clerical grades, it’s simply not acceptable that they see their workloads increase without that reflecting both grading and pay.

“Our union only uses strike action as a last resort so the ball is very much in GWR’s court. “We stand ready to get back around the table and talk at any time.”